Toyotomi Hideyoshi—The Third Pirate King of Japan (0-6)

     The Kodama Family had been one of the Kamakura Shogunate’s vassals who had been transferred to western provinces to bring the whole nation under the shogunate’s control.  The family was from the northern corner of Musashi Province, which adjoined Sagami Province, where Kamakura was located.  Their ancestors were members of one of the Musashi Seven Corps.

     The most part of Musashi Province was plateaus deeply covered with volcanic-ash soil, which was suitable for stock farming, not for rice growing.  In ancient times, many of the naturalized Silla people then were sent to Musashi Province, and engaged in the farming.  On that base, many stock farms were set up there, including 6 imperial stock farms.  The custodians of those farms later formed small-scale samurai families.  By marriage, those samurai families composed 7 corps on the plateaus in the province.

     Some members of the KodamaCorp were transferred to Takehito Village, Toyota County, Aki Province to prepare for so called the Mongol invasion of Japan, or for the invasion by the allied forces of China and Korea.  The village was located in the mountains between Yoshida Manor and the Seto Inland Sea.

   

     Therefore, the Mori Clan and and the Kodama Family were land samurais in their origins.  In 1554, however, the Mori Clan occupied Kusatsu Castle and Kusatsu Port, and got the gateway to the sea for the first time.  The port had been called Ikusa-tsu (literally Battle Port) in ancient times, and had been used as an important naval port in sending troops for the Battle of Baekgang in 663.  After the occupation, Kodama Naritaka was appointed to be the lord of the castle, and to lead the Kawanouchi Sea Guards there.